Dora Melinda Jefferson

Female21 October 1884–12 April 1943

Brief Life History of Dora Melinda

When Dora Melinda Jefferson was born on 21 October 1884, in Thayer, Nebraska, United States, her father, Iverson Alverian “Iva” Jefferson, was 30 and her mother, Sarah Jane Davenport, was 26. She married Boliver Lewis Light on 9 December 1903, in Washington, Kansas, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 3 daughters. She lived in Munden, Republic, Kansas, United States in 1935 and Rose Creek Township, Republic, Kansas, United States in 1940. She died on 12 April 1943, in Richmond, Contra Costa, California, United States, at the age of 58, and was buried in Ida Cemetery, Munden, Republic, Kansas, United States.

Photos and Memories (3)

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Family Time Line

Boliver Lewis Light
1876–1940
Dora Melinda Jefferson
1884–1943
Marriage: 9 December 1903
John Wesley Light
1905–1969
Vera L Light
1907–1969
Velda Marie Light
1911–1981
George Ivan Light
1914–1935
Donald Edward Light
1919–1983
Joy Kenneth Light
1921–1998
Mary M. Light
1924–1987

Sources (18)

  • Dora Light in household of Ilma Rood, "Kansas State Census, 1915"
  • Dora M Jefferson, "Kansas County Marriages, 1855-1911"
  • Dora Light in entry for Joy Kenneth Light, "California, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945"

Spouse and Children

  • Marriage
    9 December 1903Washington, Kansas, United States
  • Children (7)

    +2 More Children

    Parents and Siblings

    Siblings (4)

    World Events (8)

    1886

    Age 2

    Statue of Liberty is dedicated.

    1887

    Age 3

    Historical Boundaries: 1887: Republic, Kansas, United States

    1900 · Gold for Cash!

    Age 16

    This Act set a price at which gold could be traded for paper money.

    Name Meaning

    English (northern): patronymic from the Middle English personal name Geffrey or Jeffray (see Jeffrey ) + -son. In the late medieval period Geffreyson was increasingly pronounced Jeffrason, with shortening of the diphthong to a simple vowel, which was later commonly altered to Gefferson and Jefferson, with metathesis of -r- and this shortened vowel. In North America, this surname became especially common among African Americans (see 2 below).

    African American: from the personal name Jefferson (or Thomas Jefferson), adopted in honor of Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd president of the US; or adoption of the surname in 1 above, in most cases probably for the same reason.

    History: The third US president, author of the Declaration of Independence, and VA statesman Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) relates in his memoirs a family tradition that he was descended from Welsh stock on his father's side, while noting the relative infrequency of the name Jefferson in Wales. It is a characteristically northern English name. — A Jefferson was among the burgesses who attended the first representative assembly at Jamestown, VA, in 1619.

    Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

    Possible Related Names

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